#1364 A quick note on new face models exposing their breasts

I’ve noticed a hell of a lot of new face models being shot for tests by young, male, Auckland based photographers of late, and there seems to be a fairly consistent theme running through the lot – exposed breasts. All I can say to any young girls thinking about getting into the business is that your bare breasts aren’t going to get you a job. It’s not art and it’s not fashion, it’s an excuse for heterosexual men to see you naked in the name of art or fashion. I spent a good hour talking to a model yesterday about how he wishes his agents had kept a closer eye on him when he first started out. He believes that had they advised him better, there wouldn’t be half naked/compromising photos of him all over the internet now. If you ever feel uncomfortable on a shoot, speak up. If you’re going to shoot a test, ask your agents exactly what’s going to be involved. They’re there to protect you, make sure they do their job. Because seriously – any shot that involves you frolicking naked on a beach could just as easily be taken with you in a bikini. Think about the future – do you really want naked photos of yourself all over the internet? And photographers, stop taking advantage. It’s getting ridiculous.

Plenty of female and male photographers of all ages from all over the world shoot tests and editorials that feature exposed breasts. This is a consistent theme in fashion, not just with “young, male, Auckland based photographers”.

Have you not noticed how many posts on Fashion Gone Rogue feature nudity?

Besides, who are you to judge that “It’s not art and it’s not fashion”? That’s just your opinion.

And this is all coming from someone who worships Terry Richardson, and likes hanging out backstage (with a camera) at fashion shows while young models get changed.

I think you’re missing the part where Isaac is talking about models just starting out’.

FGR sure does post alot of features from across the world but most of them are from established models. the point here is new faces being taken advantage of not the fact that models pose naked from time to time

Isaac, I agree 100 % with you here. If breast shots are going to be done they need to be tasteful & for a reason. Photographers like Derek Henderson & Craig Owen are an example of this, their nude shots are beautiful and done in good taste.

There are a lot of new generation photographers that think nudity will make their work edgy and arty but they are not beautiful, and i feel sorry for the girls that got suckered into it.

I am a photographer, and have been for 3 years and i’ve only JUST done my first nude shot because it’s something that when you do it you just have to do it right!

I can understand being shot nude/partially nude by photographers with great reputations, for high-end brands or editorials with large viewership (all the while being paid for it), but what I don’t understand is the value in being topless for an unpaid test shoot.

Money aside (and I’m not a model and I don’t work in the industry, so correct me if I’m wrong), but I would assume that for a new model, appearing topless in a test shoot gives you no advantage (in terms of being booked) over appearing clothed? I would doubt a new model’s topless test shoot is looked at more favourably for jobs, over one that is clothed.

What is the point where nudity for artist merit becomes nudity for the sake of nudity?

Shot Ise, I’m in total agreement.I think there’s a vulnerability to a young, new model who is excited by the prospect of a successful career. Surely they are more likely to go along with what an established photographer suggests, rather than standing up for themselves. I would imagine this is the case even if they are unsure of the direction a shoot is taking.They may think their future career is on the line.How old would your average new model be, by the way? xx

I saw this photo and I thought she looked beautiful, she does. I think that you putting a big cross over her is more disrespectful to both the model and the photographer as you have no idea what the situation was with this shoot and for all you know she may have suggested it. ( Shock horror, some models offer quite gladly, no biggie). If this was my image I would be pissed off as it almost implies that this photographer was taking advantage, was he??? She looks comfortable and confident and considering you wet your pants over Terry Richardson the biggest perve of them all , I really dont know why you always get your heckles up over this.

Yes younger girls need to be cautious I agree, dont get me wrong, BUT girls have boobs , and some girls are happy with them and dont see it as a big deal. I dont think that it is fair to mention young Auckland male photographers, yes some of them are shooting girls topless, but some of those photos are fantastic and hell if I looked like that Id want photo evidence. Yes shes topless, but in no way is the image pornographic.

I saw this photo and I thought she looked beautiful, she does. I think that you putting a big cross over her is more disrespectful to both the model and the photographer as you have no idea what the situation was with this shoot and for all you know she may have suggested it. ( Shock horror, some models offer quite gladly, no biggie). If this was my image I would be pissed off as it almost implies that this photographer was taking advantage, was he??? She looks comfortable and confident and considering you wet your pants over Terry Richardson the biggest perve of them all , I really dont know why you always get your heckles up over this.

Yes younger girls need to be cautious I agree, dont get me wrong, BUT girls have boobs , and some girls are happy with them and dont see it as a big deal. I dont think that it is fair to mention young Auckland male photographers, yes some of them are shooting girls topless, but some of those photos are fantastic and hell if I looked like that Id want photo evidence. Yes shes topless, but in no way is the image pornographic.

I’m astonished by how many people seem to miss the point on your blogs. Anna Wintour saying she’s unhappy with how skinny some models are who turn up to her shoots, somehow turns into a fat vs skinny debate. The benefits of new young models getting topless turns into a pornography discussion.Weird.

I think young models should realise in NZ it most likely isn’t going to lead to a career. Plus with the increasingly imposing information age they are not going to be taken seriously in the workplace if you google their name and boobie photos come up.

Undeniably, there are many photographers, men and women, who do want to shoot some of our talent, both men and women, semi/nude. Red11’s staff treat all job offers on a case-by-case basis as it is Red11’s company policy that we forward all work offered to our talent despite our personal feelings or opinions on the work. Having said that, we have never been asked by any of our clients to offer semi/nude work to anyone under 18 years.

We have not yet had a case where a model under 18 years old has been involved in semi/nude work to my recollection. However, there has been one occasion where a model who had been modelling for over 18 months did a semi-nude shoot when she was in Australia which was done direct via her overseas agency and the model’s mother. We had no input in this matter.

Personally, all of us here at Red11love many images that many of our photographers, stylists and models are producing for different reasons: because they are beautiful…or make us think or buy into a fantasy, break moulds and ideals…all sorts of things.

Issac I am really surprised at times by your utterly boring and prudish posts, that shot is beautiful not expoititive. What is ridiculous is your stupid x covering her breasts!!Have any of you boring prudes ever been to a beach in Europe?? Believe it ir not they are not ashamed of their bodies, their boobies, they do not see them as something that is sexual and disgusting?? They are just part of the same body parts that all women have!! What is this? Does it remind you of the Dark ages, I thought / hoped even that the human race had evolved a little further, it’s 2010 grow up and chill out?!

hey anonymous ^^,ITS NOT THAT IMAGE EVERYONE IS ARGUING ABOUT. most of you douche bags keep bringing it up without reading the damn facts. NEW MODELS IN TEST SHOOTS is the problem.CLEARLY that shot was used as an example, you just fail to read.

Yes but have any if you so called ‘douche bags’ ever asked those models in question if they want beautiful shots of their bodies? Your boring prudish minds are assuming that they are manipulated into these images, which I believe is a gross exageration I think these girls are comfortable with their bodies and don’t feel the need to cover it up for the plebs that find it distasteful..

as an overseas based nz model who has many photos not unlike the above floating around, i understand your concern but still feel it’s disappointing to hear this attitude; assuming this is something to be ashamed of on some level. of course it’s obvious that pressure is unacceptable, particularly on young or new models who are finding their feet & learning their personal boundaries. it’s just as actresses choose whether or not to bare all in movies… some have strict no-nudity clauses and can argue it adds nothing to a movie, others feel completely differently and who is to say who is wrong? it’s a completely personal choice. any bold claim as to knowing what is art only discredits your other points, which are quite valid.

i accept that nz is a funny place where nudity is concerned… it doesn’t feel closeminded until you travel & experience fashion billboards & magazine covers showing nudity, and the aforementioned topless sunbathing – not just in europe, but much closer to home in places like sydney. you see outrageously hot, topless women laying out in bondi & fifteen year old boys walking past to go for a surf, not giving them so much as a second glance… it’s refreshingly normalised and i think a much healthier attitude to our bodies.

the point someone made earlier concerning the information age is entirely relevant though, images are around forever, usage is near impossible to control, and there’s a generation coming through who need to be much better educated about the repercussions of what goes online – social networking sites included. you have to be aware that the day may well come when your post-model career credibily comes into question because of what comes up when your name is googled.

when i arrived in hong kong i had all pictures showing my breasts removed from my book by my agency there. in london, this was completely reversed. in new zealand & australia & america they’re very selective, i find that overall it maybe gives my book more international credibility… and in terms of whether it gives you an advantage? i’ve heard clients say amongst themselves, great, we have 16 changes and half a day to shoot them, at least she’s not going to be uptight & running off to the bathrooms to get changed between shots. there’s definitely an attitude in the industry towards the more modest models who aren’t comfortable changing in front of a room of people as being unnecessary timewasters who are insulting the crew’s professionalism… you can argue that being a model shouldn’t mean having to stand in nothing more than a nude g-string being spraytanned at fashion week while the backstage photographers mill around, but it’s the reality of the industry.

opting out can cost you jobs, but also probably keep your mum happy… it’s just a matter of taste, and to be honest i think it’s barely the biggest issue to worry about for young models. schooling them on how to travel safely, cope with being told to cross the borders into countries as a ‘tourist’ when you’re going to a job & the consequences of being caught are no joke, how to effectively deter the dodgy guys who hang out outside the model apartments in milan & are friends with the doorman who is meant to keep them out, the agency owners who also happen to own nightclubs, teach them how to manage their money, how to not be taken advantage of by agencies keeping your money as long they can in high interest savings accounts before paying their models, and what to expect from management – a lesson on the fact that agencies work for you and not the other way around… these are the things new models need to worry about far more than whether conservatives from nz will think they were silly for getting their kit off.

Fantastic comment, Natalie, thanks for your input. Like you said, there are plenty of things that young models should be schooled on.

First off, I don’t consider myself to be a prude.

Second, by your own admission, you’re a model who has worked internationally.

What advice would you give to girls who might never leave Auckland and who might never even make a dollar out of modelling? Where new face models are concerned, it’s a very real possibility. Very few make it out of here.

Sorry im a little late at replying as i dont realy have the time to look over these kinds of blogs, It was brought to my attention via some good friends. On this note of topless new models i have to agree with this Isaac dude who ever you are, young faces shooting topless is a bit hard to grasp and i feel Issac makes a valid point. What makes this interseting is the photo used to illustrate this point, its not valid. The wounderfull Kathleen in this photo is not a new face and the direction was outlined prior to the shoot I know because i shot this test. I dont mind you using my photos at all if it fits the story. Not all young male photographers do it for kicks like you suggest. Iv been shooting for well over 10 years. thanks for calling me young but i dont do it for kicks. The one request i do make is that you remove the X of my photo as it is an infigment of my work and against the law. Also i do extend the invitation to sit and meet with me over a hot coco so you get an idea who your writing about. Im suprised your a fan of Terry Rishardson i am a fan to some degree i think hes a little harsh sometimes but i can appreciate his work. Anyway Isaac thanks for letting me comment on your blog and i wish you all the best. I will follow up on you fixing my photo soon.

10 Months later and funny how he stopped commenting on this after Damien posted. You like Terry Richardson who has young models telling stories of making them wank him off at shoots and then your making statements about “new face” tests who aren’t even new before even knowing any facts. So hypocritical it’s ridiculous.

Well Isaac. The photographer owns copyright of the image which means that technically you are unable to alter the image without their permission. You dont just have free reign over any image you want you know. The fact that Damien has specifically asked you to remove the cross and you haven’t means that if he wanted to he could take this to a lawyer and you probably wouldn’t have a leg to stand on as you have no right to this image. Im sure the AIPA would love to fill you in on more details http://www.aipa.org.nz/

Well Gaz. Agree to disagree. I think you’ll find that censoring an image is quite legal. The image was already online which means that it was in the public domain. I simply reposted a censored version of it.